Ink roller vibrator



Jan. 8, 1952 H. L. M WHORTER "INK ROLL'ER VIBRATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 iNvswTo' H Wq L. mc mwvtew M 2 9% W w CHTTOMEIYJ Jan. 8, 1952 H. L. MOWHORTER INK ROLLER VIBRATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 H. MGWHORTER 2,581,687

Jan. 8, 1952 INK ROLLER VIBRATOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 16, 1947 TTOHNE-Y-J Patented Jan. 8, 15252 .4UNITED ..ST-ATE'S PATENT OFFICE 1 f a I ,.-2.5s1,6s 7. I INK ROLLER VIBRATOB I Henry L. McWhort ei, Chicago, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing-Press Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 16, 1947, Serial No. 780,284

9 Claims. (Cl. 101-348) The present invention relates to ink roller vibrators and inparticular to a-device'for reciprocating-the rubber distribution rollers distributing system in which the series of steel' andirubber ink distribution rollers are engaged in a folded or clustered relationship and in which the rubber rollers are arranged for axial vibration to maintain a narrow stationary ink distribution stripbetween adjacent bands of ink film. 'fIt, is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved inkroller vibratorfparticularly adapted for reciprocating rubber" ink distributing rollers which are arranged in 'a clustered relationship.

It'islanother object of the invention to provide an ink roller vibrating mechanism which is of unitary'construction adapted to be driven by a driveshaft which is arranged generally central-- ly of a plurality of rollers to be vibrated. It is an allied object to provide an ink roller vibrator which can accommodate all of the vibrating rubber rollers employed in an ink distribution system of the type disclosed in the aforementioned copending application.

It is ,afurther object of the device to provide a unitary roller vibrating mechanism which is compact and which may be constructed in a manner, to closely hug the side of the ink carriage frame, resulting in less danger to operating personnel; due to-obstruction of the walkways, and contributing to the neat appearance of the press.

.It is'still another object of the invention to provide an ink roller vibration in which the iric- 7 tion and inertia load is minimized, resulting in which is simple'and straight-forward and which may be: easily and inexpensively constructed.

It isa moredetailed object of the present invention to provide a' vibrating mechanism for at least three vibrating rollers in which the vibration of the rollers respectively is dissimilar in phasing and equal in amplitude and which may, at the same time; derive rotative power from a gear having an axis located at any position generally centrally of the rollers being vibrated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in'connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an ink carriage showing the improved vibrator mounted on'one side thereof.

Fig. 2 is a more or less schematic view showing the relationship of the ink distributing rollers with particular emphasis on the vibrating rollers which may be drivingly accommodated by the mechanism herein disclosed.

Fig. 3 is a view of the vibrator lookin in the direction of the roller axis and with the covering'of the housing removed to show the details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the vibrator of Fig. 3, taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the auxiliary linkage included in the vibrator mechanism taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic layout of the rollers in the ink distributing system showing the bands of colored ink film arranged side by side thereon.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions and uses, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail one embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure, but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions and uses falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as ex pressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there will be seen a portion of a magazine press ink carriage indicated generally at 10 having an improved ink roller vibrator l2 mounted thereon in a housing I 3 and at the ends of the rollers to be vibrated. The series of steel and rubber rollers l4 serve to produce a smooth evenly distributed ink film for "application to the plate cylinder 15 which is in rolling engagement with an impression cylinder it which carries the .web of paper receiving the printed impression. As will be seen in greater detail. power is supplied to the vibrating mechanism via a vertical shaft I! driving a horizontal shaft I8 through a pair of bevel gears l9. From tion purposes.

the shaft 18 power is transmitted through a pair of bevel gears 2!, a transverse roller shaft 20 and into the vibrator l2.

The relationship of the various rollers employed in the ink distribution system is clearly shown in Fig. 2, such rollers being arranged substantially as shown in the above mentioned copending application. Briefly; stated, the ink: distribution: system includes as'fountain 24:whichmaybetof:

the continuous feed undershot type as set forth 1:)

in detail in my copending application for U.'Sf Letters Patent Serial 762,580 filed July. 22,.194'7. This fountain applies a film of ink to a'fountain roller 25 which has a spiral roller 26 in wipinge.

l 't Th 1:. ortiom-of-the inki engagement therewl h e p Jec'tioh GlIiis-Iconnected is universally mounted for universal movement about a fixed point 66a, the

removed from the fountain roller is next passed to a rubber roller 21 from which it is distributed to r a relatively larger steel roller 2'8) From the latter the ink film is transferred to a first vibr'atin'gi roller 29, a steel roller 30and a second vibrating roller 3 l iboth of the vibrating-rollers ;29;3 I being: constructed of rubber.- and having-grooves 2911;. 3H1, respectively formed therein for color+separa- 32 which rotates in-a clockwise: directionasilluse trated, so that the filmto a large 'extentre moved by a vibrating rubber roller- 33, spaced abouttheperiphery of the drum -from the vibrat ing roller 3|. Thev ink filmq which -is picked .up

by the rubber roller 33 defines the-primary path of ink vflow-to the plate cylinder. This primary path is completed throughasteel roller 34" which is in rolling engagement with -a -first form-roller 35 and asecond form roller-36, bothof-which-ride 351 on the plate cylinder 15.; n

As the inking drum 32 -rotates clockwise; the."

ink remaining thereon afterrcontact with the:

roller 33 passes around theright-hand surface to' a rubber roller 38 which constitutes the beginning of the secondary? ink -path: From the rubber roller 38.the .inkflows. tea-steel roller 39;;thence P to a third form roller 40 and a fourthaform-woller- 4|. It will be notedthat-therollers instead of being strung out ina:- serial; arrangementmare instead folded or clustered to form a .pocket 42. It will. be.apparent:thatsuchclustered ar r eme'nt brings the; rubber rollers=-25,-.3 i-; 33;. and 38 into close. proximity toone another the rollers being grouped generally-around' the shafts 3 45 and 45 thereon. {it the ends-.of thearmsqare couplingsorljoints 48,- 49,-50-respectively, pref-er ably of the shackle type and have shank portions" allowing a limited amount of relative telescoping: movement.- Received (in the-Joints, 43,250,- are:

wrist"pins 5|, 52'; and-153. These serve to-engage' push rods 54, 55 and56 respectivelw whichcen gage the shafts of the rollers 29', -3l,:and. 38, subjecting" each of'themras will-beapparent to a reciprocating motion.

The vibrating roller. 33 isvibrated: by-being-. 5

coupled-to the push-rod-55 servingto-vibrate the roller 3|. Thus, in Fig.5 there willbeseen-apiv oted' link 55 which. is. mounted" for oscillatory movement about a pivot 59. At-the ends:of3the* lever 58 are additional shackle type joints 611 611 7;)

which carry wrist pins 62', 64. The-first joirit.60,-. coupl'edto the push'ro'd 55,- transmits the motion. of 'thie latter; outo'f 'phaseiby 180 degrees, to an auxiliary push rod165; The resulting, teeter totter? action willfbe apparent froin'Fig. 5 wh'ich driving. member 10.

Next, the ink film-isdeposi-tedl-onanink drum 25 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lever 58.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, means are provided for imparting a rotary wobbling movement to the spider 31. This is accomplished by mounting such spider on a universal joint or pivotBG located centrally therein andby further providing a projection 68 extending mwardlw toward the press: from the a spider and rigidly joined to the latter. Atatsnnnenena the projection 68 engages an eccentric indicated generally at 69, which is mounted on a rotatable In operation, the rotary movement of the eccentric 69 causes the inner endof the'iprojection 68 to be drawn in a circular patmandin-sinceetheiispider 31 to which the proentirespider' willbec'aused to move with a rotationalw: wobbling movement which is utilized to reciprocate the push rods 54, 55, and 56 out of phasawi-th one another. A

Referring to the ,rotary drivingmemben Idim greater detail',-,it will beeseen thatthe outerirneeriph'ery includes gear teeth 'll which meshiwiths. the teeth of a -driving-;pinion .12L(see Fig., 3); which rotates with the shaft;2flband the ink dfumaiile mounted thereon. Rotationoftl ie driving meme ber' 10'? is ranntatea'by an ..antifrictionihearinga 14 which is' mounted. in: the frame Off the ink? carriage? V In the practice. of "the present invriticn thee. eccentric" 691s journ'ald" in tlie' projectfiixi so' that' the latter 'memb'ersme'mai" iii-coaxialrelation at aill times'and making i unnecessa" to provide some co'mp'lfcated knucklepfball and. socket joint at 'thispoii'it'i Thepoax'rafrelati'oni of parts 68; 69" is maintained by causihgfrthe' axis of 'tlie eccentric-69* to be angledfwith respect to the driving member 15 on wh'ich it"i'suflountd, the-"axis of theeccentric ir'r the-presentdristance being a' li-grie'czl with tliecenter" of rotation 666* of the universa-l join-t 6'6". regardless of? thtirotational' pos'itiohbf tlie diivifig membehj e eccentric ism-ways: in perfect journaled aiiriee" men-t with' tlre 'proiection 68- Vl'l'hiieth'e' speci'tfc designs of the eccentric =may fiane=- many farmer without departingzfrom tlie 'm'por't'a ship just setz fortlf, I :prefer t'i iise a:- stir 15 jection which may be conveniently? an: anglerpost 1-5 andzwhichf-l may: be threaded or otherwise eccentrlcally mounted theft dii vi tigi member 10c. Aseillustratediin'ithe preferred e bodiment 0f -Fig; lithe; anglecpos'tclszzimzrecetvede ina-tappedholejd;i surroundingidreangleipost'fi 5 -isa- -bushing 18.'which ,;t0getheri 1 9, mount the inner? race: 'Of. aniantifrictimia bearing 8|. The outer race 82 of this bearing is. seated-in the. open inner:.end--= of :the pr'cj action 68. and. retained therein by a-threaded .i collatifl'le or tliehliker v 7 The. present invention is also. concerned: with": varyingthe. amplitude of+-roller vibration; this purpose additional tapped: holes here? cate'd at 85iandi-8fi'v (Fig. 3),. are providedihflthee rotary driving member 10" and locatedztherei'm. at a greater and lesserdistance; respectivelys. from. the center of. rotatiom. EachmfJthmholesi 85,36 .is -appropriately angled so as to be directeds, at'all ltimesLat the. center:- .of' rotation wa of the spider. 4-2,. all-in accordance ,with the teachings above seti forth. In order:toz provide noiponlac propen orientation: but z also firm seating bushing .18- surrounding. the angle pest 'l 5; met mg" sphericalsurfaces 83 -are machined. ou the? rotary. member-- 10" and on=--the; innersurface?- of the bushing. The center of such spherical surin exactly the same manner regardless of thedegree of eccentricity,.in other words, regardless of which of the holes 16, 85, 86 may be used.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the hole 85 having, the greatest eccentricity will,

cause movement ofthe rollers through agreater amplitude, while the hole,8,6, having the least amount of eccentricity, corresponds to a reduced amplitude of vibration;

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, thevibrator mechanism is so constructed as to provide access to the angle post I5 so that it may be unscrewed from. onev hole and screwed into another to change the amplitude of vibration. For this purpose the projection 58 is formed of a hollow sleeve which is rigidlyengaged at its outermost end 68a in an aperture 89 formed in the central portion of the spider. Further, the universal mounting 66 is so constructed so as to enable access to the interior.

of the projection 68. The latter is achieved by employing a second or mounting sleeve 90 having a relatively large bore 9| therein. The inner end of the sleeve 90 has a spherical outer surface 92 which forms the ball portion of a ball and socket joint. The body portion of the mounting sleeve 90 is mountedin the outer wall of the vibrator housing I3. Preferably a thread 93 is used so that the mounting sleeve may be adjustably advanced to remove any play existing in the bearings of the spider mounting. Once the proper adjustment is obtained, it is preserved by a lock nut 9'! or the like.

The socket portion of the ball and socket mounting includes an outer bearing race 94 having a spherical inner surface 95. A series of balls 96 riding thereon reduce friction to a minimum and permit rotary wobbling action of the spider 31 through the desired angle. Both the balls and outer race are retained in position by retaining rings 98 which may be pressed or screwed into position within the inner end of the projection 68.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent that a construction is provided in which two sleeves 68, 90 having a largeinner diameter are in general alinement permitting a tool, such as a wrench. screwdriver or the like to be inserted within them, to engage the top of the angle post 15. Thus it is merely the Work of a few minutes to change the amplitude of vibration, which is to be contrasted with the conventional type of vibrator in which adjustment frequently requires partial disassembly. Preferably, a cover 99 is provided on the outside of the housing I3 to prevent the entry of dirt into the housing and to improve its appearance. A I

While the push rods 54, 55, 56 and 65 are mounted for pure reciprocating movement within the housing I3, nevertheless it is to benotedthat this in no way restricts the lateral bodily adjustment of the rollers with which they are engaged. For example, referring to the upper portionof Fig. 4, it will be noted that the push rod 55 is reciprocatingly coupled to the shaft of the roller .3I through a joint I00 allowing lateral offset of the two axes. In the present instance the joint I00 includes an annular housing IN, the left-hand side of which carries an inwardly extending fiange I02. The opposite or right-hand side of the adjacent rollers.

the coupling I00 isclosed by a threaded flan e: like collar I04. In the .spacebetween the collar I04 and the flange I02 isian antifriction' bearing I05 which has an outer race I00 which is free to slide laterally through a limited distance in any direction. Consequently the axes of the roller and push rod respectively may be offset, for example to the extent indicated at I0'I.

While the angular relationship of the spider arms 43-45is an important factor in the smoothnessof mechanical operation, it will be under,-.

film moves during the phasing time interval be-.

tween adjacent rollers. The latter is best illusstrated by taking an extreme case. Suppose, for example, that the ink film were transported at such speed between adjacent vibrating rollers so that it moved, in the phasing time interval, exactly from one of the rollers to the next.- This would be undesirable since the ink at a given point on the ink path would be laterally wiped by the second roller in exactly the same manner and in the same vector direction as it hadbeen wiped by the first. It is desirable, rather, for the ink at a given point in the ink path to be acted upon in an unlike manner by successive rollers,

vibrated rollers, the center of wobbling movement is chosen to make each of the spider arms the same length. The latter serves to locate the center of the driving member which is the rotating member '|'0 in the drawings. As a final step, the driving ratio between the power source (shaft 20) may next be determined by adjustin the ratio between the number of teeth on the meshed gears II, 72. The driving ratio thus chosen determines the frequency of vibration of the rollers and thus establishes the distance that the ink film moves in the phasing time interval between As stated above, the driving ratio should be chosen so that each roller acts in turn upon the ink film in a manner which differs in phasing.

While the design set forth in the patent drawings has been found to produce the desired outof-phase wiping of the ink film, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other specific roller layouts may be employed without departing from my teachings. As a matter of fact the basic vibrator mechanism may be employed to advantage in substantially any ink distribution system employing vibrating rollers which are arranged in more or less clustered formation.

Rsum of operation Although the operation of the improved vi jection 58 on the spider 31 is cOWHQi ES to are reciprocated in a predetermined 'phase re lationship, the: difference in phasing with-respect tl rthe: moving ink fiI-m beingproportional te both the angular' positioning: of the respective" arms j andithe corresp'ondin'g travel 'oi the as se't' fortn abover 1 Since the arms -a'rea vibrated bya:

common: mechanism in; register with 4 the pressdrivewit:is impossible few the rellers te change their-:rela ve phasing? Thuszthe pattern'of film-- vibratio n: initially incorporated' into the press-is automatically maintainedregardless of the sp'eed oiipress-operation.

I claim as my invention:

having reciprocably mounted inkrollers thecom bination comprising a spi'der having'armstherw on adapted 'to reciprocatinglj engage said"in=k rollers; a: universalimountingfor said spider to enable-it to: wobble ffeely any di'r'ection abouta -central axis' Which"is-para11el==to the axes-of said ink-rollers, an-axial'projection on said spider and rigidl-i' jeined thereto" at th'egenerally cen tral p'ortion' thereo-f-,-" an'd means in'cluding a ro- 'tative= drivingmember having an eccentrical'l y mounted post 'in engagementwit'h .the-endof said; extension; said-"rotative member:being substan tially in alinement witli tHe-axis 0f' said universal coupling-ion bodil'y rotation ofthe= end of' said* projection about said centraliaxis fdrzimparting I ingly engaging said inlbroll'ersi a" rigid projection on said spider locatedat the central portion thereof and ex-tendinginwardly towardsaid print-- in'g press, a rotative driving member in general alinement with said projection; an eccentric on said rotatabl'e *member disposed for engagement with theinwardl'y ext'endihg-end ofthe projection on said" spider" and" imparting circular" bodily movement to said end of-said-projection;' and a universal mounting-meansbearing against the oppositeendof' said projection and restraining'it against movement away-from said' eccentric;

3? In an 'ink rollervibrator'for *a' printing press having reciprocably mounted ink= ro1lrs;, the combination comprisinga spider'having outward- 1y=extending-" armsth'ereo-n for reciprocatingl'y, en= gaging said'ink rollersyaballand socket mounting for -said spider "positioned for diiniteduniversal movement 'ofsa'id spider aboutamaxiscentrallyi ofth-latter; a rotative' driving member gen eral alinement with said axis centrally "of the spider and axially spacedfrom" the latter;- an ec-j centric post on said rotatable member afrigid" projection on said spider in'journaled engage ment with saidzeccentric post,;sai-diieccentric post 6 being angled in the direction of. the center ofsaid ball and; socket mounting; so, that 'saidispide'rjs subjected to 'a'wobbling motion upon rotation of said driving member.

4; In an ink roller vibrator fora printing press. 7 having reciprocably mounted ink rollers, the com. bination comprising'aspider havingparms thereon forreciprocatingly en gaging' said ink rollers"; a" rigid sleeve projection on said spider -'--l'ocated at the central portion thereof," and extending-in 7 8E wardlyr towai'd said: printing: press, anniversai mounting: for: said? spider, said: mounting bein positioned :centrally 'ofisaidl spider and linsalinee mentiv1th said?sleeverzprojectiorr'ionlimited:uni+

' versalimovement: or: saidrspider about antaxi's parallel t011th'e aXi'SOfithdnklrollts'; atrotative drivingrmember inrigeneral ali'nem'ent with the axis of said universal. movement; an: eccentric post i oni said rotatable? member in .journaled enigagemen'tf with?: the-:- sleeve 1 projection on: said i spider; saidi: universai mounting being? so: con stmtcted as :to' provide accessrinto said's1eeve=pro+- jeotion kfor"enabiing theiadju'stment oi' 'the de gree of eccentricity of said postil- 5F Inian ink -roller vibrator for a printing press havingreciprocablymounted ink 'rollers thecom bination comprisingaspidrhaving arms thereon v for "reciprocatingly engaging said ink rollers and having an aperture centrally arranged thereing 12 Iri=anin1 mller*vibrator'fora printingpress' zosleeve rig dly fixed on Sa1d P i111 alinem'ent? with :said ap'erture and extending inwardly to"- ward' said f printingpress; means for supporting said spider including-' amounting sleeve a1ined= with said first mentioned sleeve and having 1 a spherical surface tl'iereon for balland socketengagement with said spider, a rotative driving m'em'ber'in generafalinement with the sleeve on said spider, an-eccentric post on-said' rotatable member in j ournal'e'd engagement with the sleeve on-said -spider, so that said-"spider is subjectedto" a. rotary wobbling motion about" its banand socket mount upon" rotation of "said 'driving men r b'er, said' sleeves form-ing a continuous access channel for: enabling adjust'm'ent of the degree oi.- 'eccentr-icity 'ofisaid post;

6? In an ink'roller' vibrator fora-printingpress having reciprocably mountedinkrollers', the combination comprising a spiderhaving arms thereonfor reciprocatingly" engaging said inkrollers, means for mounting said spider for universal movement-about a =-point located generally 'cenftrally therein, a= rigidprojeotion on said spider having an" axis generally'alined 'with the center of movement thereofand "extending inwardly to"- ward'saidprinting press; a rotative-drivingnierm b'er' in general alinement with sa id"projection,= an eccentric 'on said rotatable -member' mounted forrotation relative thereto, said eccentric alsoiiei'n d'i's'posed' 'for=journaled engagemen-twith said pro:

j c'tion- 'fer subj ectingsaid spider to a: rotarywob Ming-motion upon-rotation of said d'ri vin'g'inem ber, and means for variably" positioningsaid" ec= centric-" on said driving member' for diifrent amounts- 0f *eccentritiity; said positioning means being-=so= constructed th'atthe rotationaraxis of said' 'eccentri'c relative-'to-said rotatable member is al'ined with thi=;- center "of Wobbling movement of said' spidnregardless-wf the degree of eccentricity.

'7? In an ink-*roller'vibrat-or for a printing press" having 'reciproc'ably mountedink rollers; the combination comprising a spider'having arms thereon for" reciprocating-1y engaging said ink rollers, means for--mounting said 1* spiderfor universal movement-fab'out "a point l'ocated* generally" cene tm-uyahemm a. rigid proj ection on" said" spider having-an axis generally aiinedi with "the center of movementthereofand ,extendinginwardly towardsaid printing press', arotative driving member *ingeneral alinement withsaidpro'jection, an eccentric? post 'onsaid irotatable" member in" jour naledj engagement with said proj ection for; sub j ectlng sa;idspider to a"rotaryfwobbling motion upon'rotation'oflsaid driving'memberfandia con.v cave"surfa2ce"on" said drivingmember for adjusifi ably positioning said post thereon for different amounts of eccentricity, said surface being formed so that the axis of said post is alined with the center of wobbling movement of said spider for all positions of eccentric adjustment.

8. In an ink roller vibrator for a printing press having reciprocably mounted ink rollers, the combination comprising a spider having arms thereon adapted to reciprocatingly engage said ink rollers, a universal mounting for said spider to enable it to wobble in all directions about a central axis which is parallel to the axis of said ink rollers, a rotative driving member in axial alinement with said central axis, and an eccentric mounted on said driving member and axially spaced from said universal mounting, a rigid member interposed between said eccentric and said spider, one end of said rigid member being in journaled engagement with said eccentric and the other end thereof being rigidly attached to said spider for imparting a wobbling motion to the latter, said arms having equal radii with respect to said central axis so as to cause said rollers to vibrate respectively out of phase but with equal amplitude.

9. In an ink roller vibrator for a printing press having reciprocably mounted ink rollers, the combination comprising a, rotative driving member 10 having an eccentric thereon and having its axis parallel to the axes of said ink rollers, a rigid member having one end portion journaled on said eccentric, a universal mounting in engagement with the second end portion of said member for permitting limited swinging movement of said member in any direction about a center in general alinement with the axis of said rotative drive member, a spider having arms thereon for reciprocatingly engaging said ink rollers, said spider being rigidly connected to the second end portion of said rigid member and positioned relative thereto such that said arms are generally perpendicular to said rigid member.

HENRY L. McWI-IORTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,607,981 White Nov. 23, 1926 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 524,846 France May 21, 1921 

